Coin-controlled dispensing machine



y 1951 J. v. KELLY 2,562,795

COIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 194'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 1l l INVENTOR. -r rame L lfe ZI TTOR/VEKS'.

July 31, 1951 J, v, KELLY 2,562,795

COIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1947 5 Shets-Sheec 2INVENTOR. z/rome y/felly July 31, 1951 J. v. KELLY com CONTROLLEDDISPENSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 194'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 NN MMWINVENTOR- J 'rrome V Kell July 31, 1951 J. v. KELLY 2,562,795

com CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet '4INVENTOR.

czar-079 12 V/ieiiy. BY

'-- r TOR/VIKS'.

July 31, 1951 J. v. KELLY 2,562,795

com CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5/4 1 0 I A46 w W E- /7 JNVENTOR.

TJZr-o me 1/ lie l2 Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEJerome V. Kelly, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 18, 1947, Serial No. 722,823

The present invention relates to 'a coin controlled dispensing machineparticularly designed.

an improved and simplified means for supporting A and serially releasinga plurality of articles, which means is characterized by the fact thateach article is supported independently of the others and is free fromthe effect of the weight of the others.

4 Claims. (Cl. 31235) Another object of the invention is to provide amachine of the type described adapted to contain two or more separategroups of articles and having a simplified manually operated means forselectively discharging an article from any desired group.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved means forpreventing improper operation of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of with parts broken away to show aportion of the interior;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section takenon the line 2-2 of Figure 1;.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the.-

line 33 of Figure 2; I

.Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 55 ofFigure 4;,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section showing theportion of the mechanism enclosed within the dotted line circle 6 inFigure 2; v

the machine Figure '7 is a development in section of th latchingmechanism taken on the curved line 1-1 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the ,line 8-8 of Figure 1 inpartly diagrammatic form, showing the coin handling mechanism; and

Figure 9 is a wiring diagram of the machine.

In coin controlled dispensing machines, it is necessary to providestorage for a relatively large number of articles of the same kind inorder to reduce the need for frequent recharging of the. machine. Insome cases, either due to the weight or the fragile character of thearticles dispensed by the machine, it is undesirable to stack thearticles one on top of another. If the articles are fragile, suchstacking may result in a crush- 2 ingof the articles; if the articlesare of substantial weight, it may also make it diflicult to withdraw anarticle from the. bottom of the stack. These difficulties are overcome,in accordance with the present invention, by suspending the articles inan envelope or sack from a horizontally disposed cantilever screw. Thus,the screw not only acts as the support for the complete charge ofarticles of the same type, but, upon rotation in a step-by-step manner,discharges the articles one at a time. Since each article hangs. freelyin its sack or envelope, there is no danger of injury to the article andno'interference with the discharge of articles from the end of thescrew. While the principle embodied in the present invention may beemployed to dispense any type. of article which may be enclosed within asack or envelope, it has peculiar advantage in dispensing phonographrecords which are positioned within the usual paper envelopes and,accordingly, the embodiment of the invention selected for illustrationcomprises a machine adapted to dispense disk phonograph records.

The machine in general comprises a casing I of any suitable material,such as sheet metal, within which is positioned a plurality of-laterallyopposed-pairs of vertical supporting posts 2, 3, 4, 5

- graph records,.which records are positioned within envelopes l8. Thetop portions of the envelopes are provided with apertures I9 ofsufficient size to thread over the screw I4. The thread on the screw maybe of any desired form but is preferably relatively deep and has arounded root portion, as best shown in Figure 5. Screw M has a shankportion 20 which is journaled by means of antifriction bearings 2|carried by the housing 9, and a gear 22 is fixed to the shank 20andpositioned within the housing. Gear 22 meshes with a gear 23 to whichis fixed at one side a faceplate 24 which carries one hub of the gearand which closes the countersunk opening 25 formed in the gear. Thecomposite gear made up of the gear element 23 proper and the plate 24 isalso journaled by means of antifriction bearings-26 in the housing 9. Acircular disk 21 is positioned within the countersunk opening 25 and isprovided with a central opening in which 3 is formed a plurality ofhelically splined teeth adapted to fit the helically splined shaft 28which projects through the disk 21 and also through the composite gear23-24. The opening formed in the gear 23-24 is of larger diameter thanthe outside diameter of the splined member 28, with the result that nodirect contact occurs between the splined shaft and the gear. However,the disk 21 is provided with hub portions which are journaled within thegear opening and which serve to hold the splined shaft 28 on the axis ofthe gear.

The splined shaft 28 is connected at one end to a rod 29 which extendstoward the front face of the machine and through a supporting andguiding plate 30, in the manner best shown in Figure 6. The forward endof the rod 29 is connected by means of a pin 3| to a square rod 32, theforward end of which projects throughthe front wall 33 of the casing Iand carriage pull knob 34. The rods 29 and 32 and associated splinedshaft 29 are normally'held in their inward ported thereon to the right,dropping one enposition by means of a coil spring 35 which bears at oneend on the plate 30 and at the other end on the flange 36 of a sleeve 31positioned on the rod 29. The forward end of the sleeve 31 limits As aresult of the above described arrangement, when the knob 34 is pulledoutwardly, the splined shaft 28 is reciprocated axially withoutrotation, thereby causing a rotation of the splined disk 21. As bestshown in Figure 4, the splined disk 21 is provided with a leaf spring 38which extends tangentially with respect to the disk and is adapted toengage a ratchet tooth 39 which projects inwardly from the cylindricalwall of the countersunk opening 25. As a result of this construc tion,when the disk 21 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 4,incident to pulling of the knob 34 outwardly, the leaf spring 38 willdrive the gear 23 in a counterclockwise direction.

Since the gears 23 and 22 are of the same size in the illustratedembodiment of the invention and the screw i4 is a single thread screw,the pitch of the helix on the shaft 28 and the permissible outwardmovement of the knob 34 are such as to effect one revolution of the gear23 and hence of the screw l4 when the knob is pulled outwardly to thefull extent. 'When the knob is released and the splined shaft 28returned by means of spring 35, the disk 21 will rotate in a clockwisedirection without driving the gear 23, due to the one-way drivingconnection between the leaf spring 38 and the ratchet tooth 39.

As a result of this arrangement, screw M will be rotated one revolutionon each operation of the knob 34. It will be appreciated that, ifdesired, a double or triple thread screw may be substituted for thescrew 4 and appropriate changes made in the gear ratios and spline angleto advance the envelopes It! the distance between sucforward motion ofthe rod 29 by engaging plate cessive threads on the screw for eachoperation."

of the knob 34 without departing from the principles of the invention.

In order to assist in holding the gear 23 against rotation on clockwiserotation of the disk 21, the face of the gear is preferably providedwith a spherical recess 40 adapted to receive a springpressed ball 4|positioned within a suitable opening 42 formed in the wall of thehousing 9. The position of the recess 40 is such that the ball entersthe recess when the knob 34 is in its fully retracted position,illustrated in Figure 6, and the remaining parts are in the positionsillustrated priate coin or coins.

velope off the right-hand end on each complete revolution. The envelopeswhich are discharged from the ends of the screws drop upon a belt 43which is supported on pulleys 44 and 45 located in the lower portion ofthe machine. The pulley 45 is adapted to be driven in any suitablemanner by an electric motor 46. When the motor is operated, the beltmoves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 and carries thedischarged envelope to the right through a discharge opening 41 in thefront wall 33 of the machine. A stop member 48, provided with a pair ofupstanding fingers 49, operates to stop the outward movement of theenvelope, even though the belt continues to move. At the point at whichthe envelope is stopped by the fingers 49, it may be grasped andwithdrawn from the machine by hand.

The remaining feed screws I2, l3, l5 and I6 are identical inconstruction and mode of operation to the previously described screw l4and are operated by similar mechanisms. The only difference between thehousings 1, 8, 9, l0 and II resides in the fact that they are displacedangularly about the common axis of the screws I2 to H5, in the mannerbest shown in Figure 4, with the result that the axes of the pull rodsare circumferentially spaced about the common axis of the screws. Thus,as best shown .in' Figure 4, the rearmost housing H isangularlydisplaced in a clockwise direction with respect to the housing9 and contains a drive gear which meshes with a gear 5| fixed to thefeed screw I6. The drive ear 50 is operated by a pull rod 52 in the samemanner as the gear 23 is operated by the rod 29. Housing l0 similarlycontains a drive gear 53 which is operated by a pull rod 54, and thegear 53 meshes with a gear 55 on the screw l5. The housings T and 8 aredisplaced angularly in a counterclockwise direction with respect to thehousing 9, and contain similar screw driving gears and associated parts.

The forward ends fo all of the pull rods carry square rods similar tothe square rod 32 associated with pull rod 29. Thus, a square rod 55 isfixed to the end of pull rod 52, a square rod 51 is fixed to the end ofrod 54, a square rod 58 is fixed to the end of the rod (not shown) whichoperates screw 13, and a square rod 59 is fixed to the end of the rod(not shown) which operates screw 12. All five of the rods projectthrough the forward end of the machine and carry pull knobs 60, 6!, 34,62 and (53, respectively, with the result that an article may bedischarged from any desired screw by pulling the appropriate knob.

Means are provided for latching all of the square rods 56, 51, 32, 58and 59 in their inward positions, illustrated in the drawings, and forreleasing the rods upon the deposit of an appro- This means includes apivoted latch associated with each of the rods. Thus, as shown in Figure6, a supporting plate 64 positioned within the casing of the machinepivotally supports a latch 65 which is adapted to engage within a notch66 formed in the upper side of the all pivoted on the plate 64, engage,respectively,

in similar notches in the square rods 56, 51, 59

and 59 in the manner best shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. Each of thelatches is preferably provided with a spring for holding it in-latchedposition, suitable springs for this purpose being indicated at H, 12,13, 14 and 15. While the latch 65 is pivoted solely on the plate 64, itwill be noted from Figure 6 that the remaining latches are spacedrearwardly of latch 65 and hence are pivoted on pins which extendbetween the plate 64 and the plate 39. Suitable spacing sleeves areprovided on the pins on either side of the latches, as best indicated inconnection with the latch 61 in Figure 6. As there shown, the latch 61is pivoted on a pin 16 which extends between the plates 39 and 64, andthe latch is held in proper position along the pin by means of a pair ofsleeves 11 and 16.

) the armature 69 is connected by means of a cable BI to the latch 61,the cable BI being trained over pulleys 62, 83 and 84. The pulley 82 isone of a plurality of pulleys journaled on a pin 85. Latch 68 isoperated by a cable 86 which is trained over pulleys 81 and 88, thepulley 81 being journaled on the pin 85 and the pulley 89 beingjournaled on a pin 99 which carries the previously men- 7 tioned pulley83. A flexible cable 9I connects the armature 89 t0 the latch 65, andcables 92 and '93 connect the armature to the latches 69 and 19. Thecables 92 and 93 are trained over pulleys similar to those provided forthe cables BI and 86. As a result of this construction, energization ofthe solenoid 19 disengages all five of the latches from the square rodsand de-energization of the solenoid permits return movement of thelatches under the influence of the latch operating springs.

Means are provided to prevent more than one of the pull knobs 69, 6I,34, 62 and 63 from being pulled outwardly at one time. This meanscomprises a pivoted latch plate 94 carried between a plate 95 and thepreviously mentioned plate 64 on a pin 96. As best shown in Figure 3,the plate 94 is provided with five notches 91, 96, 99, I99 and I9Iadapted to co-operate, respectively, with specially formed notches I92,I93, I94, I95 and I96 in the underside of the square rods 56, 51, 32, 58and 59. As best shown in the developed sectional view of Figure 7, thenotches in the latch plate and the square rods are so arranged as topermit withdrawal of only one of the square rods at a time. This resultis achieved by beveling the rear edges of the slots 91, 98, 99, I99 andI9I in the plate 94 to form cam surfaces adapted to co-operate withsimilarly beveled surfaces formed in the rod notches to effect a shiftof the latch plate when one of the rods is pulled in a direction toalign the notch in the plate with the rod, such alignment being necessarby reason of the fact that the width of the notches in the plate isequal to the width of the square rods. Thus, as shown in Figure '7 inconnection with the square rod 32, the notches in the square rod areprovided with beveled cam surfaces I91 and I99 adapted to co-operatewith beveled surfaces I99 and H9 on the rear. edges of the notch notches91, 98, I99 and IN are out of alignment with their associated rods 56,51, 59 and 59. Accordingly, none of the rods may be pulled outwardlyexcept the rod 32. If, however, it is desired to pull the rod 56, thebeveled cam surface I I9 on the rod notch will engage the beveledsurface III on the rear edge of the notch 91 and swing the latch platein a counterclockwise direction about the pin 96 until the notch 91aligns with the rod 56. This movement of the latch plate will place allof the remaining notches out of alignment with their associated rods.The mechanism operates similarly when any of the other rod is pulledoutwardly, with the result that in no case can two rods be pulled at thesame time, even though all of the solenoid operated latches arereleased.

v An important feature of the above described 'means for preventingmovement of more than one of the rods at a time resides in the fact thatthe interlocking latch plate 94 is pivoted and hence may operaterelatively freely. To facilitate such pivotal action, the latch plate 94is preferably .spaced slightly from'the plate '95, as shown in Figure 6,and is so constructed that it will not deflect'sufficiently to engagethe plate 95 except upon'application of a force greater than thatnecessary to swing it about its pivot pin 96.

The operation of the machine is controlled by a coin mechanism and anelectric circuit, which are illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 8and iswitch'esof the other set operate to return the coins deposited inthe machine when a knob is pulled and the associated article supportingscrew is empty. The switches of the first set are conventional limitswitches mechanically associated with the "square bars 56, 5,1, 32, .58and 59. Thus, as best shown in Figure 6, a limit switch H2 is supportedby means of a bracket II3 beneath the square rod 32 with the opertaingbutton II4 of the switch contacting the underside of the rod. :Thearrangement is such that when the rod is pulled outwardly to its fullestextent, the operat- 55' ing button clears the left-hand end of the rod32 and thus is free to move upwardly. When the rod is returned, itengages the button and depresses it to the position shown in Figure 6.Similar switches are similarly associated with each of the remainingrods 56, 51, 58 and 59. As hereinafter more fully pointed out, each ofthese switches controls two separate circuits and closes .I I9, I29,I2I, I22 and I23, which are so associated,

respectively, with the screws I2 to I6 that they remain closed as longas any article is supported on the screw with which they are associated,

but open when the last article is discharged from that screw. Thus, theswitch II9 comprises a flexible leaf spring I24 which is mounted at oneend on a rod I25 carried by the housing 1' and which carries at itsopposite end a switch contact I26 which is adapted to co-operate with acontact I21 carried by an arm I28, which is also mounted on the rod I25. The underside of the leaf spring I24 bears lightly on the upper edgeof the envelope which is supported on the outer extremity of the screwI2 and is held by the envelope in its uppermost position, in which thecontact I26 remains in engagement with the contact I21. As soon as thelast envelope is discharged from the screw, the leaf spring I24 ispermitted to deflect downwardly and thus open the contacts. Theremaining switches I20, I2I, I22 and I23 are similar in construction andmode of operation and are illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 9.

As shown in Figure 8, the coin mechanism includes a coin deposit openingI29 adapted to receive coins of the appropriate denomination. Coinsdeposited in the slot I29 enter a slug rejector I30, which may be ofconventional construction and which serves to separate bogus ordefective coins from genuine coins, the former being discharged into achute I3I and the latter into a chute I32. Chute I3I communicatesdirectly with a coin return pocket I33 accessible from the exterior ofthe machine. Legitimate coins discharged through chute I32 pass apivoted switch operating arm I34, which is thus swung in a clockwisedirection to momentarily close a contact between the arm and astationary contact I35. The coins then pass downwardly and come to reston the fiat surface I36 formed on a member I31 which is pivoted by meansof a pin I38 in such a position that the fiat surface I36 closes thelower end of the chute I32. Thus, the coins deposited in the machineinitially come to rest at the lower end of the chute I32 and inengagement with the surface I36. The member I31 is provided wih a pairof coin chutes I39 and I40 which merge with a downwardly projectingchute I4I which, in the normal position of the parts illustrated inFigure 8, terminates above a relatively fiat surface I42 which closesthe lower end of the chute I. A pair of solenoids I43 and I44 is pivotedby means of pins I45 and I46 to the casing and has its movable armaturesconnected by means of links I41 and I48 to opposite sides of the chuteI4I. Springs I49 and I50 normally urge the links I41 and I48 toward thechute HI, and thus serve to center the chute in the positionillustrated. On energization of either of the solenoids I43 or I44, thepivoted element I31 is swung at its lower end toward the energizedsolenoid. Thus, on energization of solenoid I43, the element I31 isrotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8. This permitsany coins which were resting on the surface I36 to pass downwardlythrough the chutes I39 and I M into an auxiliary coin return chute IIwhich communicates with the pocket I33. Energization of solenoid I44swings the element I31 in the opposite direction and permits the coinsto pass downwardly through chutes I 40 and MI into the reservoir I52.

As shown in Figure 9, the electrical circuitv comprises a pair ofelectric supply lines I53 and ergized after switch I35 opens.

The contacts I58, I59, I60, I6I and I62, which comprise one of the twocontacts in each of the switches H2, H5, H6, H1 and H8, are connected inparallel with each other and in series with the coil of a relay I63across the lines I 53 and I54. The switches II9, I2I, I22 and I23 areconnected, respectively, in series with the contacts I64, I65, I66, I61and I68 by means of lines I69, I10, I1I, I12 and I13, and the lines I69to I13, inclusive, are connected in parallel with each other and inseries with the coil of a relay I14 across the lines I53 and I 54.

The relay I55 has a normally open contact I15 in a line I16 whichcontains the latch release solenoid 19, as a result of whichenergization of the relay I55 effects release of the latches 61, 68, 65,69 and 10. The relay I63 is provided with a holding circuit I11containing a normally open contact I18 of the relay I63 and a normallyopen contact I19 of the relay I55. The relay I14 is provided with aholding circuit I19 containing a normally open contact I of the relayI14 and a normally open contact I8I of the relay I55. The main circuitof the relay I14 also contains a normally open contact I82 of the relayI55. The relay I 63 is provided with a normally closed contact I63 inthe main circuit of the relay I55 and a normally open contact I84 in thecircuit of the coin return solenoid I43. The contacts I83 and I84 ofrelay I63 are of the delayed action type, being connected to the relayarmature by a spring and associated with a one-way acting dashpot in theusual manner. Contact I83 is so arranged that its opening movement isdelayed for a pre determined period after energization of relay I 63,while contact I84 has a similar but shorter delayed closing period.Thus, for example, the dashpot mechanism may delay the closure ofcontact I84 for two to three seconds after the relay I 63 is energized,and the dashpot associated with contact I83 may delay the opening of thecontact for approximately six seconds after the relay is energized.Contact I83 will close and contact I84 will open immediately uponde-energization ofthe relay I63.

The relay I14 contains a normally closed contact I85 in the main circuitof the relay I63, a normally open contact I86 in the circuit of the coindeposit solenoid I44, and a normally open contact I81 in the circuit ofthe motor 46.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows. On deposit of a coin inslot I29, switch I35 will be closed momentarily, thus energizing relayI55, and the coin will come to rest on the flat surface I36 of theelement I31. Energization of relay I55 closes contact I15 and therebyenergizes the latch release relay I19 and makes it possible for anyselected one of the pull knobs 60, GI, 34, 62 and 63 to be pulledoutwardly. Thereupon, the operator will pull a selected knob. When theselected knob is pulled outwardly to its fullest extent, one of thelimit switches H2, H5, H6, H1 or II8 will close, at least momentarily.If the screw associated with the knob which is pulled is carrying one ormore articles, the corresponding switch of the group consisting ofswitches II9 to I23, inclusive, will be closed and, therefore, both ofthe relays I63 and I14 will be simultaneously energized. Energization ofrelay I14 immediately opens contact I35 and thus de-energizes relay I63before the delayed closing contact I 84 of relay I63 can close.Therefore, the coin return solenoid I43 will not be energized. On thecontrary, relay I14 will close contact I66 and thus energize the coindeposit relay I44 and at the same time the relay I14 will establish aholding circuit for itself by closing contact I80. The coin depositrelay I44 will remain energized until the circuits through relay II4 arebroken by the opening of contacts IBI and I82 of relay I55. This willoccur as soon as the delayed opening relay contact I83 of relay I63opens the circuit through relay I55. In the meantime, the contact I81 ofrelay I14 will have closed on energization of the relay I14 and startedthe motor 46. The period of delay in the opening of contact I83 is madesufiicient to insure not only complete operation of the coin depositsolenoid I44, but a sufflcient period of operation of the motor 46 tocompletely discharge an article released from the rearmost supportingscrew I6. As soon as this period has been completed, the opening ofcontact I83 will de-energize relay I55 and return all portions of theelectrical circuit to the position shown in the drawings. It isdesirable to deenergize the latch solenoid I9 as soon as the controlknob is pulled out to its fullest extent. Accordingly, there is providedin connection with the relay II a normally closed contact I88 in thecircuit of the solenoid 19 which will open and de-energize the solenoid19 as soon as one of the knobs is pulled outwardly.

In the event that the screw corresponding to the selected knob iscarrying no articles, the corresponding switch of the group II!) to I23will be open and, consequently, relay I'I4 will not be energized whenthe knob is pulled fully out. This prevents operation of the coindeposit solenoid I44. Nevertheless, the relay I53 will be energized,thus .closing contact I84 after a short delay and energizing the coinreturn solenoid I43. This returns the deposited coin to the coin returnpocket I33.

While only one preferred form of the invention is illustrated anddescribed herein, it will be apparent that variations in the design andarrangement may be indulged in without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims. In this connection, animportant feature of the invention resides in the use of cantilevermounted supporting and feeding screws for the articles dispensed by themachine. Such screws are of peculiar utility for use in dispensingarticles such as phonograph records in paper envelopes, and it will beapparent that the advantages of such a construction may be realizedregardless of the nature of the mechanism utilized to rotate the screwsin a step-by-step manner. Thus, other forms of manually operatedmechanisms may be employed or the screws may be rotated by one or moreelectric motors, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin controlled dispensing machine for dispensing any one of aplurality of types of articles, a plurality of article dischargingmembers mounted for reciprocation in parallel paths, manually operatedmeans accessible on th exterior of said casing for reciprocating each ofsaid members, each of said members having a notch formed therein, and alocking plate pivoted in said casing on an axis parallel to thedirection of movement of said members and having its periphery extendinginto the notches in said members, the periphery of said plate having aplurality of notches so spaced as to permit reciprocation of only one ofsaid members at a time.

2. In a coin controlled dispensing machine for dispensing any one of aplurality of types of articles, a plurality of article dischargingmembers mounted for reciprocation in parallel paths, manually operatedmeans accessible on the exterior of said casing for reciprocating eachof said members, each of said members having a notch formed therein, anda locking plate pivoted in said casing on an axis parallel to thedirection of movement of said members and having its periphery extendinginto the notches in said members, the periphery of said plate having aplurality of notches so spaced as to permit reciprocation of only one ofsaid members at a time, at least one set of said notches having beveledcam edges whereby upon movement of any one member the plate will beswung to align the notch therein with said member and to move theremaining notches in said plate out of alignment with the remainingmembers.

3. In a coin controlled dispensing machine for dispensing any one of aplurality of types of articles, a plurality of article dischargingmembers mounted for reciprocation in parallel paths, manually operatedmeans accessible on the exterior of said casing for reciprocating eachof said members, each of said members having a notch formed therein, alocking plate pivoted in said casing on an axis parallel to thedirection of movement of said members and having its periphery extendinginto the notches in said members, the periphery of said plate having aplurality of notches so spaced as to permit reciprocation of only one ofsaid members at a time, means normally acting to prevent reciprocationof all of said members, and coin controlled means for rendering saidlast mentioned means inoperative until one of said members has beenmoved.

4. In a coin controlled dispensing machine for dispensing any one of aplurality of types of articles, a plurality of article dischargingmembers mounted for reciprocation in parallel paths, manually operatedmeans accessible on the exterior of said casing for reciprocating eachof said members, each of said members having a notch formed therein, alocking plate pivoted in said casing on an axis parallel to thedirection of movement of said members and having its periphery extendinginto the notches in said members, the periphery of said plate having aplurality of notches so spaced as to permit reciprocation of only one ofsaid members at a time, at least one set of said notches having beveledcam edges whereby upon movement of any one member the plate will beswung to align the notch therein with said member and to move theremaining notches in said plate out of alignment with the remainingmembers, means normally acting to prevent reciprocation of all of saidmembers, and coin controlled means for rendering said last mentionedmeans inoperative until one of said members has been moved.

JEROME V. KELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,139,477 Boddy May 18, 19151,359,696 Greene Nov. 23, 1920 1,921,610 Du Grenier Aug. 8, 1933 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 405,094 Germany Oct. 28, 1924

